Ayurveda

1.

An evolved holistic system of medicine

Originating in ancient India, Ayurveda ("ayur" = knowledge / "veda" = life) dates back anywhere from 5,000 – 10,000 years ago. Ayurveda is a complete system of healing, including dietary recommendations, lifestyle practices, and herbal medicines, that taken together form a guidebook for living your best life.

2.

Based on the unique constitution of each person

We all have individual manifestations of disease and imbalance and we each require a unique bouquet of diet, lifestyle and herbal recommendations. No two people with diabetes, for example, experience it the same way. Ayurveda not only recognizes this, but has a system in place to address each individual expression of disease and imbalance. This is a totally different approach than other methods of healing.

3.

Capable of creating health and well-being from within

More than anything, Ayurveda is a guidebook to help you remember or discover who you truly are, in body, mind, and spirit. My goal is to help you get out of your own way, clearing a path for your healthiest, most authentic self to emerge. The true healing power lies inside of you. Ayurveda just helps you find it.

Herbal Medicines

Meditation

learn how to begin and stick with a meditation practice that suits your needs and serves you well…

Yoga

elevate your current asana practice (or get one started!) to prevent and address not only physical pain, but imbalances in your mind and spirit as well…

Sense Therapies

you are not only what you eat, but what you see, hear, touch, and smell. Learn to use your senses to bring you towards balance and health...

Ayurveda helps the healthy person to maintain health, and the diseased person to regain health.

— Dr. Vasant Lad

THE NITTY GRITTY

OK. Listen, I get it. You want to know what you are signing up for. Let me lay this out for you.

1.

Can Ayurveda help me? Is it right for me?

Ayurveda can help support you through any kind of disease or imbalance, from asthma to ulcerative colitis and everything in-between. It is right for you if you are looking to treat the root cause of your imbalance and not just your symptoms. It might not be the right fit if you are looking for a quick fix or a pill to take. Disclaimer: I am not an MD or trained in Western medical diagnosis. I happily work alongside your doctor as part of a team, if that is what is best. OK, disclaimer over.

2.

How do I get started?

Your Ayurvedic journey starts here, by booking an Initial Consultation. Two weeks before your appointment, I will email you your intake paperwork. You fill this out electronically (or the old fashioned way, if that is your style) and email it back to me before we meet.

3.

What happens in the Initial Consultation?

Your Initial Consultation is two hours long and we discuss everything on your intake paperwork and more. The paperwork covers everything from your regular schedule (or irregular schedule) to your elimination patterns to what you like to eat and how nourished you feel in your relationships. Because Ayurveda is a holistic science, I look at the whole pie, not just slices of it. This will most likely be the most thorough evaluation you have ever had.

4.

OK, I just told you my life story. What now?

We meet 7-10 days after your Initial Consultation for the Report of Findings appointment. In this appointment, I give you your Ayurvedic constitution, we talk about where things are at now and how we are going to get you from where you are to where you want to be. I give you one or two recommendations to start implementing into your life and we order herbal medicines for you at this time. We also schedule your next Follow Up Visit.

5.

What happens in Follow Up Visits?

In Follow Up Visits, we check in to see how the recommendations are going. I offer you creative, non-judgmental support to help you be successful in implementing Ayurveda into your life. And we assess how your symptoms presented over the past week. What we want to see, of course, over time, is that your symptoms decrease regularly.

6.

How frequently do we see each other?

After your Report of Findings appointment, we meet weekly for the first 4-6 weeks. I am happy to be flexible here if you need to meet less frequently, but I can tell you that without exception, clients who meet regularly get results faster and are more successful.

7.

What kinds of things are you going to tell me to do?

Recommendations are completely personalized, so no two individuals will experience Ayurveda the same way. Your "homework" can run the gamut from the relatively simple to the more intense and committed. In addition to personalized herbal medicines, some common, generalized types of recommendations are:

Follow these specific dietary guidelines at breakfast. Eat whatever you want the rest of the day!

Practice the art of the Neti pot every morning and apply this really good smelling oil to your nostrils afterwards.

Exchange your third cup of coffee for a cup of black tea.

Write out 10 of your core beliefs in five specific categories.

Get up early and watch the sunrise.

Perform this basti (Ayurvedic enema) at home every other day for two weeks.

Incorporate a series of customized yoga postures into your daily exercise routine.

Complete this personalized 5-day detoxification program at home, including a monodiet, purgation, and enemas

Chant a specfic mantra.

Recommendations are always designed to be simple but not necessarily easy and provide maximum results for minimal effort.

8.

How much and can I put this on a credit card?

Prices can be found here. I accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and Discover, as well as cheques, cash and VenMo. You can pay by credit card right through this here website, too! Just click “Add to cart” on the Prices page.

9.

You seem great and all, but when can I stop seeing you?

Excellent question ~ throughout our time together, I want to continually empower you to feel you have the education and tools necessary to care for yourself. My goal is that eventually you only need to see me a couple of times a year for guidance on a cleanse or a tune-up. To get there, you can expect to be in care for 6-12 months. For some, their journey is much longer and for others it is on the shorter side. But that is the average length of time that you can expect to see me regularly.

10.

What is your favorite thing about Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is for everyone. Whether you want the whole kit ‘n caboodle, or just the tip of the iceberg, Ayurveda has something to offer every single person. I have seen it transform so many different kinds of people and it is the thrill of this lifetime for me to bear witness to that evolution. That is my favorite thing about Ayurveda. Oh, and tongue scraping. Tongue scraping is the best.

TESTIMONIALS

“When I met Leah, I had already been through years of doctors telling me my symptoms were just related to stress. I tried everything - medications, vitamin regimens, coffee enemas, vegan diet, juicing, yoga every day, acupuncture - but nothing helped; in fact, things continued to get worse. Within the first month of practicing Ayurveda, my symptoms significantly resolved. Additionally, I had answers with solutions and a proven path by which to continue my healing. I’ve been practicing Ayurveda with Leah’s guidance for almost 2 years, and I am healthier and happier than I’ve been in decades. I highly recommend making the investment in working with Leah - it’s truly a journey like no other.”

-Anonymous, Nashville, TN

"Leah is an exceptional counselor. She is incredibly bright and carries a beautiful , ego-less wisdom that immediately puts a person at ease and allows him/her to open up to Ayurveda's full benefit. There is no pressure and individual pace is completely respected. I treasure our sessions!"

-Kori, Franklin, TN

“Through the last few years, I had tried piecemeal options for "problem areas"; a bit of dieting, some exercise, sleep aids, etc. Nothing stuck, except the problem. Ayurveda guided by Leah changed all that. The balance I am finding in all life areas is amazing and truly life changing. Leah is a well educated, experienced and intuitive guide. She finds a personalized path for each client that moves at the right pace for you. Enjoy the journey!”

-Kyle, Nashville, TN

“I have been working with Ayurveda and Leah Kaplan for over a year now. My "old" self, who was always looking for the quick fix, would say, "You're kidding right? Over a year and you're still not finished? Then it must not work." Oh but it DOES! My old self just didn't realize what changes were needed.

My story with Ayurveda won't resonate with everyone. One of the things that makes Ayurveda so powerful is that it meets the needs of each person who is working with it. For me, I needed to learn to appreciate "the journey". I needed to find joy in the everyday "humdrum" activities that are required to live, instead of rushing through the days trying to get to the "next big event or success". Here's the sneaky part about my journey through Ayurveda - I had no idea that this was what I needed to learn. I thought it was all about what foods to eat and which herbs to take. But Leah Kaplan knew the truth. She didn't try to "teach" me with lectures. She taught me by providing activities, routines and suggestions on bringing beauty and satisfaction to all my senses.

Sometimes it felt like such a struggle. I'm not sure why. No individual change was hard, but I've been pretty set in my lifestyle and mindset for a long time. Somehow Leah always responded in just the way that I needed. There was no judgment - at least no judgment from Leah. For the first time in my life, it was safe to tell the absolute truth, both to Leah and to myself. Leah's acceptance and help without judgment is teaching me to not judge myself. This has been one of the most powerful results of this work. You can read books and websites, take online tests, and follow generic recommendations for eating for your dosha. But Ayurveda is so much more. Working with Leah Kaplan has taught me so much that I didn't even realize I could learn. Leah offered many insights; wonderful questions that made me take another look at myself and my perceptions; and many times simple suggestions that I simply couldn't see until she offered them to me. But she is also teaching me by example to treat myself the way I have tried to treat others all my life - with care, understanding, a lack of judgment, acceptance and love.

This will probably sound silly and trite, but my days are so often filled with laughter now. I take a few minutes each morning outside with my dog and find myself chuckling as I watch her chase after some insect. I catch myself rushing around, not paying attention, accidently missing a doorknob or a step. Instead of being irritated or embarrassed, I find a delighted bubble of laughter crops up as if I'm watching an old Three Stooges clip. I can't tell you why. I can only say that it is so wonderful to find joy in this universe instead of constant irritation, judgment and worry. Does Ayurveda take away all your troubles? Of course not. But it does change the lens and the focus through which you view difficulties and problems.

As I'm re-reading this, I realize that I have not once referred to the reason that brought me to Ayurveda and Leah. My diet and lifestyle brought me to some significant health issues. I'm a work in progress, and for the first time in many years, I know I am capable of creating new habits. Do you have any idea how good it feels to know there is hope? After years of failing at diets, I am finally sure that I'm capable of change. I'm so looking forward to continuing this journey. There's no telling what new lessons lie ahead for me. I wish everyone could experience the journey they need. It's a transforming experience.”

-Susan, Murray, KY

"Ayurveda is a great love in my life. I began to see Leah a year ago for a multitude of issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, and female issues such as fibrocystic breasts and painful cramping during my cycle. When I started my journey, I felt hopeless that my condition may never change and also spiritually isolated. Leah has been my person. She is an authentic woman and very skilled practitioner. It is rare that you find a healthcare professional that cares, listens and knows how to guide you through the process of health transformation. Leah is that rare gem and her knowledge, experience and guidance have revolutionized my life and led me back to a place of balance. Ayurvedic remedies and routines have given me relief from all the issues that I was having. I can’t say enough good things about Leah! I just trust her completely."

-Sara, Johnson City, TN

“Leah is attentive and compassionate. She created a beautiful and soothing space to see her patients. She explains the principles of Ayurveda well and suggests gradual lifestyle adjustments that are doable and even pleasurable. She helped me improve my digestion with some herbs and lifestyle changes and advised me on introducing some routines that help me be calmer and more resilient.”

-Tatiana, Williamsburg, VA

"Sometimes the work we need to do in life is not enjoyable. The work we need to do for ourselves is some of the most challenging, uncomfortable, and painful work we will do. But it is some of the most valuable and worthwhile work that needs to be done. Leah holds and creates a space where I am not afraid to dive in and do the work. She listens without judgment, mentors, motivates, and compassionately challenges me in the journey called Ayurveda. While I have only been practicing Ayurveda a few months, I already feel a huge change within myself and how I handle myself in the world. I love how the practice looks at a person from a whole perspective- the body, mind and sprit, and when treating symptoms I feel like we are getting to the root of the problem creating lasting change."

-W.R. Nashville, TN

“I always felt that the solutions to my common problems lies in Ayurveda and the best way is to treat the root cause. I am so happy to have found Leah and I have been with her for almost a year. She is very patient, non-judgmental and helps you to incorporate Ayurveda slowly in your routine. I am very happy with my journey with her in Ayurveda."

-Neha, Nashville, TN

"In working with an individual therapist as a result of having a history of an eating disorder that recently transformed into exercise addiction, my therapist recommended I work with Leah to explore how the Ayurvedic perspective could support me along my journey. I had little knowledge of what Ayurvedic medicine was prior to meeting with Leah and truthfully was terrified of the perspective that "food is medicine." I was initially skeptical, however, I was willing to give anything a try to restore my health and to develop a healthier relationship with my body and overall self. I have worked with Leah for several months now and she has been exceptionally patient, kind, flexible, inspiring, and supportive of me. We have taken things slow and steady to achieve self-discovery and success, and with Leah's guidance and professionalism along the way, I have implemented many changes into my daily life that have helped me to balance my doshas, thus creating harmony emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. I am grateful that my therapist recommended Leah and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to find greater happiness, peace, wisdom, and love in natural ways."